Innehållsförteckning för Autumn 2024 från Pitch

FRONT ROW / LB-4-£ ATHLETES THAT OUT-PERFORM THEIR SPORT Beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh-Jennings formed one half of the greatest pairing the sport has seen. Alongside Misty May-Treanor, she won three Olympic gold medals and three world titles – with the pair unbeaten in a remarkable 112 game stretch. Hailing from Santa Clara, CA, Walsh-Jennings was the first recipient of the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year in 1996, leading to a volleyball scholarship at Stanford. She helped the university win the NCAA title in both 1996 and 1997 – missing out on a third championship in her final year, with defeat to Penn State in the final. She finished her college career as the first player in PAC-10 history to have at least 500 blocks, 1,200 digs,…

A means of lining up as natural as playing football itself. Born behind the Iron Curtain to Soviet father, Viktor Maslov, the 4-4-2 would soon find its way to Brazil during the 1950s, providing Pelé et al. a platform to win two World Cups in 1954 and ’58. England followed suit under Sir Alf Ramsey in ’66 before Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest secured back-to-back European Cups in ’79 and ’80. More recently, Leicester City’s 5,000-1 Premier League winning season had the flat-back-four to thank. A last breath, maybe, but a vigilant, valiant, and valid one at that. As ever with tactical matters, the prevailing sense after Spain’s win at the 2010 World Cup was that British football continued to lag behind the world. In Spain, a 4-2-3-1 was common by…

THE SCUDETTO has never been won by the Orobici. They are the oldest side in the competition not to do so. 3–0 The margin of victory as Atalanta ended Bayer Leverkusen's season-long unbeaten streak to win the 2024 Europa League. 1907 Atalanta is founded by Swiss students from the Liceo Clasico Paolo Sarpi. 63 seasons spent in Serie A marks a record for teams based outside of regional capitals. BLACK ‘N’ BLUE stripes came to the fore in 1924 following a merger with Bergamasca. The club having previously played in black and white. DERBY LOMBARDO sees La Dea and Brescia lock horns. Infrequent bust-ups are fuelled by 900 years of bad relations, Brescia often lingering in Serie B. La Dea Atalanta takes its name from Greek mythology, the heroine has…

1928 Johnny Weissmuller Standing at six-foot-four, the American is most recognisable as Tarzan for his silver screen role in the 12-film Adventure Drama series between 1932 and 1948. Despite his acting career – and one cancelled Olympics during World War II – Weissmuller set 28 world records in the water and took home five Olympic gold medals, including Water Polo bronze in 1924. 1956 Dawn Fraser Eight years spent beating her own world record for the women's 100-metre race, where she succeeded nine consecutive times. Dawn ‘Flippers’ Fraser set standards that stood strong until the ‘70s. The Australian’s life is showcased in the oftforgotten 1979 film, Dawn! 1972 Mark Spitz ‘Mark the Shark’ once publicly predicted six Olympic wins for himself, ‘only’ to leave the water with two, the bar…

MOST SOLHEIM CUPS PLAYED 12 – Dame Laura Davies (Europe) MOST MATCHES PLAYED 46 – Dame Laura Davies (Europe) MOST MATCHES WON 22 – Dame Laura Davies & Annika Sorenstam (Europe) MOST FOURSOMES MATCHES WON 11 – Annika Sorenstam (Europe) MOST FOURBALL MATCHES WON 11 – Cristie Kerr (USA) MOST SINGLES MATCHES WON 6 – Catriona Matthew (Europe) & Juli Inkster (USA) MOST MATCHES WON BY DUO 5 – Dame Laura Davies / Alison Nicholas (Europe) MOST POINTS EARNED 25 – Dame Laura Davies (Europe) MOST POINTS EARNED BY DUO 5 – Dame Laura Davies / Alison Nicholas (Europe) Cristie Kerr / Lexi Thompson (USA) BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES 5-0 – Caroline Hedwall, 2013 (Europe) LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY Europe – 8 points, 18-10 (2013) LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY, INDIVIDUAL MATCH…

KEVIN PIETERSEN CRICKET | NORTH LONDON Sam Bowles: “I'd known KP since he first arrived in England – and that he was 'sometimes late'. We'd set up lights in Members' benches in the Lord's Pavilion while still light and done a load of test shots, but by the time he arrived, it was pitch-black. And he was wearing black tie! At times an unpredictable subject, he was great with me and always a presence on camera.'” LORD BOTHAM CRICKET | CANTERBURY “'Why do you need another photo of me, there’s five fucking million of them on the internet… use one of them’. Not ever something you want to hear at the start of a shoot, but we got the job done. I said: 'I'm just here to get the job…

Since Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the stories and images being broadcast from the country have been horrifying. War is gutting Ukrainians’ lives; but the ambitious and quirky place where I have lived and worked is still there. Many people are surprised, for example, to learn that Ukraine has several cricket teams. The father of cricket in Ukraine is a man named Hardeep Singh, who brought the game to the city of Kharkiv in 1993. After first arranging hit arounds in local parks, Singh went on to create a cricket league with several teams. Cricket really took off in the country when Ukrainians got involved. In a rural town outside Kyiv, an Australian church pastor of Ukrainian descent, Wayne Zschech, taught the game to the members of his…

1. Scudetta SOKITO ≈£149.99 The World’s most sustainable footy boot. To go with your oat milk chai latte. 2. Vapor 16 NIKE £254.99 Science proves these make you run faster. Strikers only. 3. Copa Gloro ADIDAS £65 Classic vintage for the player who values the timeless allure of a fold-over tongue. 4. Mundial JOMA £38 Loud and stylish for those with a particular set of skills. 5. Solista LOTTO £26 From Italy, with love and racing stripes, a shoe in as our top budget buy. 6. Morelia Classic MIZUNO £48 Nothing feels like a Mizuno. This bright take on a classic is silky smooth. 7. Future 7 Puma £38 Create without constraints. Other than your ability. Best in pink. 8. Tekela V4+ NEW BALANCE £70 Clean, functional, and effective. Get…

10'S NO.11 Spain’s 10th city has a population of 347,000. Euros winner, Nico Williams, plays for Athletic Club. The Black Cats Athletic Bilbao, as they are more commonly referred to, was founded in 1898. The club’s distinctive red-and-white striped shirts coming courtesy of sailors from Sunderland. Locally sourced Only those born in the Basque Country are eligible to play for The Lions. Aizkolaritza Is an annual wood chopping strongman competition. He who cleaves the most wins. CESTA PUNTA AIso described as ‘the world’s fastest game’ and involves slinging a ball against a wall using what looks like a cross between a wastepaper basket and an eel trap. Think long-range squash. With wicker. Sailing Happening on the river Ria, the waterway has been the backbone of the city since its founding…

So what is the Solheim Cup? Put plainly, the finest female golfers from two continents tee it up over three days in a team match-play competition staged every two years. It’s red v blue, Europe v USA and it’s loud. Real loud. Where did it all start and how is it going? Taking its name from Karsten and Louise Solheim, who founded the manufacturing company that makes Ping golf clubs, the inaugural Solheim Cup was won by the US at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in 1990. With scores standing at nine apiece in the 18 iterations since, the US enter this year’s clash with a slender 10-9 lead. Yet with golf's prevailing winds blowing the Solheim Cup towards European shores in recent years - the team in blue…

Whilst it may be a run- of-the -mill Tuesday morning in London to many, that isn’t the case for the focused folk around me. Where the majority are largely unimpressed by the low-key hum of city-centre roadworks and rush-hour traffic, there is more of a buzz in the air for some of the better dressed travellers. And that’s because tennis is back in town. Tube routes are packed in the direction of SW19. As stations home in on the sport’s main event, billboards are the familiar green and purple. Emma Raducanu is again a poster girl. As is the last stand of Andy Murray. It’s as you’d expect. Straw hats and cream linen blazers. There’s the odd shirt and tie. Most are dressed at the smarter end of smart-casual. All…

As rain poured over the Imola circuit, Sebastian Vettel set off from the start line. As usual, he was flanked by members of the F1 grid and yet this occasion was different. It was May 2024, Vettel had retired two seasons prior, and instead of a four-stroke 1.6-litre turbo V6 powering him, the German four-time World Champion had nothing but his feet beneath him. Vettel, wearing a yellow T-shirt with a band of blue and a band of green going horizontally across it, was leading the grid from the Imola start line to the Tamburello corner and a secluded area away from the circuit. Nestled in the trees, sat a bronze statue from artist Stefano Pierotti with the figure of a man, head bowed and curly, untamed hair falling to…

ANDY AFFORD The editor writes on why champions should never willingly retire. JADE CRADDOCK Book-o-phile Jade reads on your behalf, offering up this quarter’s best in print. KATE KUSZTAL Pitch principal designer and all-round magazine maker. Amongst other things. SAM BOWLES Our Art Director showcases a photo portfolio a mile long and two miles wide. MARK HODGKINSON Two-decade veteran with The Times, read an extract from his book, Searching for Novak. KIERAN LONGWORTH He went to London to meet wheelchair tennis star Diede de Groot. SAM COOPER Writes passionately about F1, in this issue about Ayrton Senna. HEEWON KIM Illustrates La Rochelle’s impregnable Stade Marcel-Deflandre on page 18. PAUL SIMPSON The sport and music writer covers off every detail of the Pep Guardiola back story.…

IN THE NAME OF LOVE by Martin Garrix – Diede de Groot RATS IN THE WARREN by Gannets – Kieran Longworth MOVE IT OR LOSE IT by The Home Team – Rosie Dean LUV(SIC.) PT3 by Nujabes – Dan Wilkinson STYLE (TAYLOR'S VERSION) by Taylor Swift– Cerys Szczesny SIGNS by Pyrate – Charlotte Greig Search ‘Pitch Magazine Issue 9 Playlist’ on Spotify STAY A LITTLE LONGER by Brothers Osborne “Contains a three-minute guitar solo – what's not to like?” – Andy Afford KANTE by Davido (feat. FAVE) “Vibes.” – Kate Kusztal…

One All the gear… Find yourself a board. It’s expensive, and you might hate it. Two Location location location. Look for calmer waters and a steady breeze. Ideally with a lifeguard. Three Learn the lingo. Setting up the sail and attaching it to the board is easier than it sounds. Four Balance. Position your feet behind the mast foot and shoulder width apart. Place your hands on the boom, keeping your back straight. Five Prepare for launch. Once you’re comfortable with the basics, take to the water. Start shallow and learn to get back on before heading out into the deep stuff. Six Stay relaxed. Maintaining a balanced stance is vital for staying on two feet. Use subtle movements to control the board. Seven Where you lookis where you'll go.…

Glass Jaw Author: Raisa Tolchinsky Cover price: £11.99 Review: Dealing with a lot of timely themes, about gender, sport and control, Raisa Tolchinsky’s award-winning poems set in and around boxing literally and metaphorically pack a punch. Why you should read it: With very few poetry books about sport, this one proves how effective it can be when the physical merges with the metaphysical. You'll like this if you liked: Headshot – Rita Bullwinkel Star rating: The Lessons Author: Nile Wilson Cover price: £16.99 Review: In 2016, Nile Wilson was flying high on the horizontal bar at the Rio Olympics; five years later he had crashed back down to earth, slipping headlong into addiction and depression. Now he shares his tips for maintaining mental health. Why you should read it: At only…

To misappropriate Dr Martin Luther King, ‘I have a dream’. An actual one. It’s of the reoccurring variety. Reappearing every 12 months or so. And in said dream I find myself within the four walls of an England cricket press conference. Not sat with the assembled ranks of the media, as once was the case, but upfront answering their questions. With lines of inquiry going something like, ‘how do you feel about playing for England tomorrow?’ It’s a fair question. Especially so, when in the dream I appear as the age I am now. Which, you’d reckon, would make it more of a nightmare than the state of near bliss I never want to wake up from. Rather than being totally terrifying – as it would be when fully awake…

Racing Proud GRAND PRIX | 2021 Lewis Hamilton donned a rainbow-coloured casque at the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix and has continued to do so at various races in the Middle East. Duck 'n Weave CRICKET | 1977 Dennis Amiss engineered protection to prevent another Dennis (Lillee) from removing his head at the MCG. Only to be welcomed by shouts of “Where’s your motorbike?” from the Aussie faithful. Horned Up NFL | 1948 LA Rams Halfback Fred Gehrke introduced the idea of wearing be-logo’d helmets in the NFL by painting two horns on his leather hood. Cleveland Brown’s remain the only team not to follow suit. Clark Kent CYCLING | 1992 Great Britain’s first cycling gold in 72 years at the Barcelona Olympics saw Chris Boardman in a first-of-its-kind pointy helmet…

MOTOR SPORT EWY ROSQVIST 1929 - 2024 The catchily-named Baroness Ewy Rosqvist-von Korff was a star-in-the-car, when driving for the Mercedes rally team in the 1960s. Alongside partner Ursula Wirth, the Swede was the first post-war woman to compete and beat her male counterparts. Competitive to the nth degree, upon winning the 1962 Argentine Touring Car Grand Prix she was quoted as saying, “They said I could never finish, so I finished first.” Her undeniable speed was said to be down to her training as a veterinary assistant in Ystad, South Sweden. A place where driving fast on dirt roads was essential in the successful transportation of frozen bull semen between farms. In her autobiography, ‘Journey Through Hell’, she said, “I was usually back one-and-half to two hours earlier than…

‘Bent referee’ is a pretty common phrase thrown around in sport; particularly football. It’s essentially a lazy term of abuse hurled at a match official when fans feel they’re in some way being negatively discriminated against. But in the case of South America’s ‘man in the middle’ Byron Moreno; with some justification. The 54-year-old came to prominence when officiating during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. It was the round of 16 match between Italy and co-hosts South Korea, a contest the home side ended up winning 2-1 in extra time. Given that underdog victories are common if not commonplace, some ‘eccentricities’ in decision-making certainly contributed to the ref ’s infamy, if not infirmity. Whether it was the controversial first-half penalty he awarded South Korea, or the disallowed ‘golden goal’ he…